Michelle Lacy
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
I am an experienced and fully qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist working online and in private practice in Richmond since 2015. I have previously worked for over a year as an Associate Therapist for a Richmond based therapy practice, for 3 years with the charity Richmond Borough Mind and 5 years in the therapy service at wpf therapy.
We may all experience times in our lives when we need the support of someone who is outside our circle of family and friends; who can provide a supportive and confidential space to help bring clarity to situations and a deeper understanding about the choices we are making in life. I work with individuals dealing with a wide range of issues common to people seeking therapy, such as stress, loneliness, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, family issues, attachment disorders, child related issues, loss, bereavement, fertility, childhood trauma, sexual orientation, gender questioning, sense of disconnection or dissociation, low self-esteem and confidence, history of sexual, emotional and emotional abuse.
I offer short term focused counselling and longer term, in-depth, psychotherapy depending on your requirements. My private practice is based at Richmond Therapy Space, which offers a comfortable and attractive place to meet in a peaceful and professional consulting room. It is conveniently located directly opposite Richmond station with easy access to BR, London Overground and underground trains as well as most local bus routes.
If you feel that counselling or psychotherapy is something that could help you right now, please get in touch so we can arrange an initial assessment.
About the way I work
What matters most in all therapeutic work is the quality of relationship between client and therapist. It can take time for trust to develop and can require courage for someone to take the first step to seek therapy. I offer a warm, safe and non-judgemental therapeutic space to help you to explore what brought you into therapy, gain insight and understanding about your situation, as well as consider what choices or ways of coping may be available to you. The focus and the pace of the work will be guided by you and your needs.
I am a relational psychodynamic therapist which means that I believe that emotional distress often has its roots in an individual’s unconscious relational experience. This means that I will work with you to help to understand how your family, environment and early/later life experiences may have shaped the way in which you behave, react and relate to others. Change can be created through helping you to unravel, experience and fully understand your true and deep-rooted feelings in order to resolve them. For more information on psychodynamic therapy: www.counselling-directory.org.uk/psychodynamic-therapy.html
Training, qualifications & experience
Training & Qualifications
I trained at WPF Counselling and Psychotherapy and hold the WPF Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling and the WPF Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Studies, accredited by the University of Roehampton.
I have also undertaken specialist somatic trauma and attachment training with the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. I completed Level 1: Trauma Themes in July 2021 and Level 2: Developmental Injury in May 2023. I have completed Part 1 and Part 2: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) Training with Richman EMDR Training with Part 3 EMDR Training due in 2024.
Experience
Since qualifying as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist in 2005, I have enjoyed working as a therapist in a variety of institutional, charity and private settings, working with people from a range of social, religious, cultural, ethnic and sexual, backgrounds to deal with a wide diversity of needs.
Professional Memberships
I am a fully qualified Accredited Registered Member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy, Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and The Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling. I abide by the Ethical Framework, as such I am accountable to this for my conduct, performance and continuing personal development as a psychotherapist. My work is supervised professionally by an independent qualified supervisor.
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Areas of specialism include attachment difficulties and developmental trauma.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I currently have a couple of spaces available to see new clients for face to face or online sessions. My session rates are as follows:-
Initial assessment fee: £70
Weekly one-to one session: £70
On-going therapy sessions take place for 50 minutes and are held once weekly, on a day and time that is agreed with you.
I do offer a limited number of concessions for on-going weekly sessions to people on a low income, we can discuss this in more detail during the initial assessment if you feel this applies to you.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
Tuesday (online) , Wednesday and Friday (face to face/online) from 9am-6pm.
Further information
I welcome and respect difference and diversity including gender, sexual orientation, racial background, ethnicity and religious beliefs.
I understand that beginning counselling and meeting a therapist for the first time can be a daunting experience and you may be unsure about how you feel and whether therapy is the right approach for you. If you do feel uncertain, please feel free to contact me for an informal and confidential discussion with any questions or concerns you may have regarding counselling or your circumstances.
You can call me directly on 07494-477 471
Alternatively please email me at michellelacy@richmondtherapy.org
